Beneath the Carle-Anderson Memorial building in Harrison, NY, lies what many would describe as a private club.

Sure, it’s part of the local American Legion Post 559, but with walls decorated with trophies and plaques, one can see that this place is the hang out for a drum and bugle corps.

The Westchester Brassmen are relatively new to the activity. Founded on September 7, 1984, they were formed as a parade corps and have been able to continue 19 years of a winning tradition and are approaching their 20th anniversary.

“Since 1931, a drum corps has been in the building,” began Westchester Brassmen Director and founding member Joe Mazzullo. “Up until 1957 it was a junior corps, but in 1957 it became a senior corps, the Carle-Anderson Drum and Bugle Corps.”

Due to lack of interest the corps disbanded in 1969. However in 1984, the American Legion 559 gave Mazzullo a loan for $10,000 to get a corps back.

“I took the money and bought used drums from the Garfield Cadets, Hawthorne (Caballeros) and the Sunrisers. Then I would buy used horns here and there and we had our first meeting on September 7 of 1984 with the first official rehearsal the following week,” Mazzullo explained.

Thus the Westchester Brassmen were born.

Throughout the majority of the late 1980s and 1990s, the Brassmen would win just about every judged parade they competed in. Boasting more than 60 horns at one point and having a total membership of more than 130, the Brassmen took on halftime shows for the New York Jets, marched in the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade and were selected to march in the Operation Welcome Home Parade commemorating the return home of U.S. soldiers from Desert Storm.

But between 1995 and now, the corps has seen a significant drop in numbers. With total membership averaging…

Read the rest of this article in the March 2003 issue of Drum Corps World!

Shopping Cart

Contact Us

8AM - 11:15AM CST (Mon - Fri)
8AM - 9PM CST (Sat - Sun)
If Steve Vickers is unable to answer the phone, please leave the number where you can be reached, a preferred time to be called back and a brief message about why you're calling. Your call WILL be returned promptly.

About DCW

Drum Corps World is published as an on-line electronic magazine by Sights & Sounds, Inc., Madison, WI. It is supported by advertising from manufacturers, service providers, corps, circuits and show sponsors. The publication began in October 1971 at the same time Drum Corps International was formed and has been produced continuously as a tabloid newspaper until April 2011 and on the Internet since May 2011. It is released monthly, as well as six additional e-mail blasts, one in late June, three during July and two in August.

The worldwide staff of writers and photographers provide show reviews during the season and interviews, feature articles, news and human interest stories during the off-season. The photographs that appear in the magazine are provided by 27 staff members who are scattered around the world. The publication covers World and Open Class Drum Corps International corps, Open and Class A Drum Corps Associates corps, alumni, mini-, parade and standstill units, as well as the growing activity in Europe, the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Philippines and South Africa.